Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)
By Andrea Ruchty
Asarum caudatumwild ginger [British Columbia wild ginger]is a native perennial forb that is evergreen throughout most of its range. It grows as an understory plant in moistmontane forests (0-1200 meters / 2200 feet) of the Pacific Northwestand is found in British ColumbiaWashingtonOregonCaliforniaIdahoand western Montanawhere it grows in zones with mildwet winters (lows 15-25 degrees F) and warmdry summers.
Wild ginger is a member of the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae). Deep greenhirsuteheart shaped leaves with distinctiveprominent venationand unique purplish-brown colored flowerswith three longradiating calyx segmentsdistinguish the species. Flowers are produced beneath leaves in spring-summer (April - July)and are often hidden from view. The first indication that you may have that wild ginger is near is the pungentsweet ginger fragrance released as make your way through the forestunknowingly treading on the leaves of this plant.
Wild ginger has slenderelongateshallow rhizomesand often reproduces rhizomatouslyalthough it also reproduces sexually through the production of seeds. Seeds include a fleshy appendage rich with oils that attract antswhich act as an important dispersers of this plant. In parts of its rangewild ginger may comprise an important food source for rodents (particularly pocket gophers). The species is also palatable to slugs. Wild ginger is thought to have antibiotic propertiesand Native Americans used this plant to treat headachesintestinal painknee painarthritisindigestiontuberculosiscolic and as a general tonic.
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